Signaling system.



L. DE FOREST.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1907.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

LIQSJE L. DE FOREST.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, 1907v Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITHEEE-EEE:

ffifiml'wm i which accompany and form a part of the.

tEE DE FOREST, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO [RADIO TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION E'EELAWARE.

SIGNALING- SYSTEllI.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented DMZ. 1914.

Application filed July 8, 1907. Serial No; 382.6751

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, LEE DE FOREST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling systems being so constructed and arranged that by its consumption an atmosphere other than air is maintained about the arc.

Several embodiments of'my invention are illustrated in diagram in the drawings present specification.

Figure 1 represents a space telephone transmitting system energized by a singingarc circuit, one of the arc-electrodes of which is partly immersed ina suitable liquid and operates as a wick to draw said liquid up into the arc forcreating the proper gas. Fig. 2 shows a modification in which one or both of the arc-electrodes is impregnated with inflammable material. Fig. 3 is another modification in which one of the arc-electrodes forms the wick of a candle of paraffin or other suitable material. Fig. 4 represents a further modification in which one of the arc-electrodes contains a core of inflammable material.

C is a condenser. M is an oscillation transformer of which the primary is I and the secondary is I A is a transmitting antenna. E is an earth connection. I T is a transmitter, herein shown as a 1mcrophone transmitter, which may be located in the earth connector of said antenna.

The circuit, which includes the condenser C, the inductance I, and the arc-electrodes, l

is a high frequency oscillation circuit and, when connected as shown with a suitable source G, through suitable resistances or impedances R B, said circuit becomes a source of practically continuous electrical oscilla-' tions. The frequency of the oscillations developed by said circuit may be increased and the regularity and efliciency of operation of said circuit may be improved if atmospheres of suitable gases other than air be maintained about the are which is created between the arc-electrodes. By means of the present invention convenient and very eificient means are provided for creating the desired atmosphere and maintaining the same about said arc.

In Fig. 1, the electrodes'l, 1 both or which may be of carbon, are supported with.-

in the air-tight vessel 2.! one of said electrodes being insulated therefrom, and the lower part of said vessel is filled with a liq uid 3 such as water, alcohol-naphtha, benzin, kerosene, .etc., The carbon-electrode being porous, operates as a wick to draw the liquid up into the are where the heat of the latter vaporizes thesame. in case the liqiiid be inflammable, a flame will be maintained about the arc.

In Fig. 2, the electrodes 4 may consist of carbon or other Suitable substance impregnated with some suitable inflammable material, such as stearin or other hydro-carbon containing element, capable of produc-l ing a flame when an arc is maintained in the space between the electrodes.

In the form shown Fig. 3, 5 represents a jacket of metal or other suitable material incasing the carbon-electrode 1 and a surrounding shell 6 of parafiin, wax, stearin, tallow, etc. In this case the carbon acts as a wick to draw the nflammable substance up into the are.

25 means for producing an electric arc also-arvessel within which the oxygen is rapidly consumed so as to prevent the combustion within said vessel from too rapidly consuming the fuel or inflammable material. This .vessel may be evacuated if desired.

By means of the present invention I am enabled to produce a practically continuous train of high frequency oscillations without having recourse to auxiliary generators of hydrogen or hydro-carbon gas or gases, the Whole device being very simple and selfcontained.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular arrangement of electrodes hereinbefore specifically described or to the particular type of circuit shown in the drawings, inasmuch as many modifications may be made in the construction and arrangement of said electrodes and in the oscillation circuits in which they are employed without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim: I 1. In an oscillatory generation system, a circuit, a condenser arranged therein, and

ranged in said circuit, said means including a carbon electrode, having therein a hydrocarbon constituent whereby the consumption of said carbon electrode operates to supply and maintain an atmosphere containing hy; drogen about said arc.

2. In an oscillatory generation system, a circuit, a condenser arranged in said circuit, and meansalso-arranged in said circuit 'for producing an electric arc, said means containing a carbon electrode having a solid body forming a core of inflammable material.

3. In an oscillatory generation system, a

high-frequency oscillation circuit, a carbon casing completely inclosing said electrode.

In testimony" whereof, I have'hereunto subscribed my name this 3d day of July,

LEE DE FOREST.

lVitnesses:

Roscon KENT, THOMAS I. GALLAGHER. 

